Bhoys want French striker

TONY MOWBRAY LINING UP £2m DEAL FOR OLIVIER GIROUD

UEFA bigwig in stark Old Firm ultimatum

David Taylor blasts Celtic and Rangers bid to quit Scottish football.

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By John McGarry, 15/11/2009

CELTIC are eyeing up a January bid for £2million-rated French striker Olivier Giroud.

Tony Mowbray has had the 23-year-old Tours hitman watched four times in the past month and is set to table an offer in a bid to solve his goalscoring problems.

Giroud has hit 14 goals for the French Second Division side this season to catch the attention of several European clubs. Now Celts gaffer Mogga has told chief executive Peter Lawwell the 6ft 3in ace is his No1 transfer window target.

Georgios Samaras and Chris Killen have both failed to convince Mowbray they should be part of his long-term plans and the move for Giroud may signal the end for the pair at Parkhead.

Giroud has also played with Grenoble and FC Istres, but Mowbray feels he is capable of making the step up at Celtic.

The big targetman is decent in the air, but his ability on the ground is the strongest part of his game. If the two clubs can agree a fee, Giroud will become Mowbray's third permanent signing.

Marc-Antoine Fortune and Danny Fox joined in the summer, while Landry N'Guemo was brought in on a one-year loan from French side Nancy.

The Hoops have also reportedly secured a £2.1m deal for South Korean wonderkid Ki Sung-Yong to join in the New Year.

Your comments

This article has 3 comments

LETS FACE IT SO FAR NOT 1 MEMBER OF THE TEAM HAS SHOWED TONY THEY DESERVE TO BE IN THE TEAM THE DEFENDERS ARE USLESS UNDER HIM AND THE MIDFEILDERS ARE A MASSIF EMBARASMENT TO WHAT THEY CAN REALY DO GIVE TONY 2 YEARS LET HIM GET HIS OWN TEAM AND IM SURE HE WILL BRING GREAT SUCCES TO THE CLUB .1 THING S FOR SURE SO FAR HE HASENT EVEN LOOKED AT A PLAYER UNDER THE 1 MILLION MARK UNLIKE GORDON DID BEFOR HAIL HAIL KING TONY I HAVE THE FEELIG HE S GOING TO BRINGGREAT SUCCESS TO PARADISE

By ramie.. Posted November 22 2009 at 12:54 AM.

i think celtic DO need to add a bit of height to the attack, killen & moreso samaras haven`t contributed enough to the team, and should be allowed to leave along with a number of others. As for mowbray,i think he should be given sufficient time to rebuild the team & Giroud seems to have a knack for scoring goals, admittedly at a lower level, but we all have to start somewhere don`t we?, i do however agree with the previous poster about rejecting proposals or requests to play in friendlies south of the border, why line the pockets of already wealthy teams (who don`t want us), when we could indeed invite top class teams to celtic park for friendlies etc, unfortunately it may (in the not too distant future) be the only chance we have to play against such teams.

By thomas mckenna.. Posted November 15 2009 at 8:48 AM.

Another 2nd rater linked with Celtic, its beyond a joke, the fans are being ripped off week in week out. Asset striping is as obvious at Parkhead as it is at Ibrox. A blind man can see mowbray's not the man to take Celtic forward, he isnt capable of rebuilding Celtic with 2nd raters.

Also now that England has closed the door on the Old Firm i sincerely hope Celtic & Rangers stop heading south for testimonials and friendlies that only boost the bank balance of the English clubs that dont want us....
Celtic and Rangers should play friendlies etc against only Scottish teams to help them or top class European teams at home.

By john clements.. Posted November 14 2009 at 11:21 PM.

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